Dorothy Sunderman

Dorothy Katherine (Schmedtjen) Sunderman was born on November 8, 1918. She was taken by an angel of God to Heaven on March 26, 2010 at 9:15 p.m. She had reached the age of 91 years, four months, two weeks, and four days. Dorothy was the second child born to Anna Matilda (Aldag) b. 10-27-1894 d. 01-08-1987 and Henry Schmedtjen b. 12-09-1889 d. 10-03-1960. Dorothy was born on the Schmedtjen family farm located one mile east and a half mile south of Norway Center IA. Southwest of Wiota IA she attended the Norway Center country school through eighth grade graduation. She was baptized January 19,1919 at the First Evangelical Lutheran church southeast of Wiota by the Reverend F. W. Heinke. She was also confirmed and a member of the church. Her confirmation Bible verse was the 23rd psalm which she fully believed in and tried to implement day to day throughout her life. Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Clifford W. Sunderman b. 03-05-1914 d. 07-15-1984 her parents and three sisters Iona Lillian Schmedtjen b. 02-29-1928 d. 01-16-1935, Hazel Marie Schmedtjen b. 07-06-1922 d. 01-20-1989, Luella Isabelle (Schmedtjen) Haselhuhn b. 12-23-1915 d. 07-07-2005, her grandfather John Christian Aldag b. 12-23-1864 in Hanover Germany d. 11-19-1942, her grandmother Marie (Bannick) Aldag b. 07-28-1871 d. 02-28-1965, her great grand parents Peter and Wilhelmina Bannick, her grandmother Katharine (Bredehoft) Schmedtjen b. 1856 d. 01-19-1899, her grandfather Henrick Schmedjten b. 1854 d. 10-29-1892, her father in law Walt Sunderman b. 02-05-1981 d. 06-03-1955, her mother in-law Lizzie (Muller) Sunderman b. 01-23-1892 d. 07-05-1977, her husband Clifford Sunderman's first cousin and Dorothy's dear dear friend since before she was married, Darlene (Sunderman) Petersen b. 05-31-1919 d. 02-09-2009. Dorothy is survived by her son and only child Gene Sunderman of Phoenix AZ, her brother in-law Clifford Haselhuhn of Melcher IA, her nephew Kenneth Haselhuhn and his wife Linda of Knoxville IA and their family, two very close cousins Doris (Porter) Comes and her husband Gary and their family of Atlantic IA, Ivan Porter and his wife Annette of Nixa, MO and their family, Darlene (Sunderman) Peterson's son Allen Peterson of Atlantic and his family. Dorothy is also survived by several "like family friends" Tyler Schulz of Springfield, MO, Bruce and Ruth Jensen of Treynor, IA. and their family. DOROTHY SUNDERMAN'S STORY BY HER SON, GENE SUNDERMAN Dorothy K. Sunderman was taken to Heaven by an angel of God at 9:15p.m., on March 26, 2010. This is the life story of my dear, sweet, mother Dorothy (Schmedtjen) Sunderman by Gene Sunderman. Mom was born on the Schmedtjen family farm located one mile east and a half mile south of Norway Center Iowa southeast of Wiota. She graduated from the eight grade at the Norway Center country school after which she spent the years at home helping her family on the farm, working out as a hired girl helping the neighbor ladies with cooking, housework, etc. Her first job was with Herman and Hanna Thompson at Norway Center, Iowa. Mom played the guitar and piano with her sisters, Luella who played the violin and Hazel who played the Piano. They played and sang for dances, anniversaries and also over the KMA Radio Station in Shenandoah, Iowa. To be in the field of entertainment was her lifelong dream. On Wednesday afternoon June 29, 1938 Mom married my father Clifford Sunderman at the first Evangelical Lutheran Church located one mile east and one mile south and a half a mile east of Norway Center, Iowa. Their attendants were my dad's best friend Mack Bell of Lyman, Iowa and mom's sister Luella (Schmetjen) Haselhuhn. Their flower girl was my dad's cousin Virginia (Muller) Steffens. A wonderful wedding reception was held at her parents home with all of the wonderful homemade country food prepared by my grandmother, Anna and all the neighbor ladies who helped with the reception. The reception was followed that evening by a good old fashioned Charivari with 200 attending at the Schmedtjen family home. They made their home at the Sunderman family farm three fourths mile south of Lyman, Iowa on highway number 71. They lived in the second house on the property which was built by my great grandfather Henry Muller who was a carpenter from Germany, and who also built the first St. John's church. My parents engaged in the farming operation with my grandparents Walt and Lizzie Sunderman. I was born on April 16, 1939 in the middle of a blizzard. Two years later, mom and dad moved south west of Griswold, IA where they had purchased the Kemling old fashioned country store. They bought cream and eggs from local farmers who would bring them into sell or trade for groceries on Saturday night each week, which was a traditional social gathering time for the locals. They operated the Kemling store for four years and sold it, and moved back to the family farm where they lived and worked together until my father Clifford Sunderman passed away on July 15, 1984. Mom worked very hard as a farm wife and was an exceptional mother. She was a superb cook, her fried chicken won many praises and was acclaimed to be "the best" by all who were fortunate enough to taste it. She did lots of extensive gardening, raising all types of fruits and vegetables that can be grown in an Iowa garden. She canned and froze hundreds of quarts each year. Mom helped with all of the farm work; raising chickens, geese, ducks, rabbits, and turkeys and also milked cows and prepared milk in bottles for dad's delivery route in Lyman. Mom assisted my dad caring for all of the hundreds of canaries that they raised and sold. She helped maintain and sell bedding plants each spring. What a busy time it was for her when it was butchering time for pork and beef which was all done at home and preparing chickens, geese and ducks to sell, which were all dressed and ready to cook. Mom was an expert laundress she washed starched and ironed each piece of clothing to perfection with the exception of my underwear. Her ardent hobby was collecting and trying out recipes of which she had thousands, perfectly filled. Mom was a longtime member of the Lyman Garden Club, and the St. John's Women's Fellowship she also sang in the St. John's church choir. In 1964 I started Valley Florist Flower and Gift Shop and Santa's Attic at Eleventh and Grand in West DesMoines, Ia. Mom always came in to the flower shop to help me with large events such as weddings, parties and the major holidays. There she came as close as ever to realizing her life long dream of becoming an entertainer by playing the role of Mrs. Santa in Santa's attic wearing her long Christmas dress and apron, with her beautiful white hair as she hosted many hundreds of bus tours from around the USA and greeted all who came to see the Christmas Wonderland. Mom would always play Christmas songs on the huge antique German music box and would lead everyone in singing Christmas carols and posing with our customer's children for Christmas pictures to put on their Christmas cards. After my dad died on July 15, 1984, my mom moved to DesMoines to live with me. Mom and I enjoyed each other so much. She played an ongoing role in my life, which made day to day living a joy. She worked with me at the flower and gift shop, and we traveled together to gift shows, and buying trips and I was able to take her on her first airplane ride to Hawaii. Twelve years ago we sold the flower shops and moved to Phoenix AZ. Although we missed our dear friends and relatives when we left Iowa, we did enjoy the weather, the fragrant orange blossoms and the many amenities of this southwest city. We spent a lot of time together, going places, doing things and enjoying this beautiful southwest state of AZ. She enjoyed it all so much. She always looked so beautiful when she dressed to go out and gloried in all the complements she would receive from people, she would beam when people commented on her lovely hairdo and angel white hair. She would say "Oh my son does my hair!". Since may 2009 mom has had to battle one physical problem after another but with an unbelievable amount of grit and endurance she was able to conquer most of them, until the last one, which was so devastating, that no amount of determination or medicine could overcome. Sadly, bitterly and unwillingly I had to give her up. But thankfully to the Lord, the only One who can treat her better, keep her safer, and love her more than I have. I know that my mom was a very special soul on this earth, my love for her will never die and she will be with me always. Thank you to all who read this, and to our friends and family. Please come to see us at mom's visitation and funeral, as a tribute to her life. Gene SundermanFuneral InformationThere will be open visitation at the Roland Funeral Home Monday March 29 through Saturday April 3 rd from 8:00 to 5:30 and the family will meet relatives and friends on Sunday April 4th from 2 to 5:00.Condolences may be left in Dorothy"s guestbook at the Roland website www.rolandfuneralservice.com.We have services scheduled for Dorothy Sunderman, 91, a long time Lyman area resident who passed away Friday evening at the Ryan Hospice Home in Phoenix, Arizona. Dorothy has lived with her son Gene Sunderman for 26 years and the past 12 years in Phoenix. The funeral service will be held at St. Johns United Church Of Christ on hwy 71 south of Lyman on April 5th, 2010 at 1:30 p.m., committal and burial will be at St. John's cemetery immediately following the funeral where Dorothy Sunderman will be laid to rest next to her husband Clifford Sunderman in the Sunderman family plot. Please join family and friends for coffee at the church after the burial.Dorothy"s husband was the late and well known Clifford Sunderman.For area church and cemetery directions, please click here:Church DirectionsCemetery Directions IN REMEMBRANCE OF Dorothy Katherine (Schmedtjen) SundermanBORN November 8, 1918Southeast of Norway Center, Iowa ENTERED INTO RESTMarch 26, 2010At the age of 91 years, 4 months, 2 weeks and 4 days FUNERAL SERVICEMonday, April 5, 2010 at 1:30 pmSt. John"s United Church of ChristHighway 71 ~ South of Lyman, IowaOFFICIATINGPastor Celeste WaymireSt. John"s United Church of Christ SCRIPTURE READING Iola Muller ACCOMPANIST Nancy WohlenhausSELECTED MUSIC"Over The Rainbow&"By Rick & Harriette Andersen, Instrumental"Just A Closer Walk With Thee&"By Don Steinbeck, Vocal"Tell Me Why&""How Great Thou Art&"By K. C. Hummel, Vocal"Suppertime&" and RecitationBy K.C. Hummel, Rick & Harriette Andersen"In The Garden&"By Don Steinbeck, Vocal"Keep Your Fork&""Leave Me With A Smile&"By K.C. Hummel, Vocal"The Old Rugged Cross&"Congregation to stand and singCASKET BEARERS Alan Peterson Kenneth Haselhuhn Wayne Johnson Rodger Jensen Marvin Pelzer Bruce JensenCOMMITTALSt. John"s CemeteryHighway 71 ~ South of LymanFLOWER COMMITTEEEleanor TietzCOFFEEThe family extends an invitation for family and friends to join them for refreshments at the church following services.